COURAGEOUS town wardens who saved the life of a man threatening to jump off a 60ft bridge have received certificates of commendation.

David Roberts, 50, and Leslie Rayner, 56, kept their cool when they spotted a young man on the walkway between Chestergate and the Argos store who wanted to commit suicide.

Along with William Logue, 57, the pair persuaded him to return to the town warden's office in the Market Place for a hot drink.

Supervisor Carol Dunley and Mr Rayner then spent 90 minutes talking him into a better frame of mind.

Mr Rayner said: "We could see he was deeply upset and not fully in control of himself so we tried to talk to him calmly and find out what the problem was.

"Eventually, he regained his composure and, although still down, he was able to leave the office in a better frame of mind."

Coun Mark Hunter, deputy executive leader of Stockport Council, said: "When they joined the town warden service, I'm sure they didn't expect to be faced literally with life or death situations.

"They handled a difficult situation skilfully and with sympathy and compassion. Because of that this man is alive today."

The town warden scheme was set up four years ago to provide a friendly presence in the town centre, and to help people who have been unemployed for more than a year to get back into employment and training.

It was the first of its kind in the country and other areas have now copied the idea. Wardens were recently filmed for BBC 2's North Westminster programme, to illustrate a story on new government funding for street wardens.

Stockport Council recently made a bid to extend the scheme to Adswood, Brinnington, Bridgehall, Offerton and commercial areas around Stockport Village and Edgeley.